december 1

pull the key from the door,

hold yourself up and take a breath

it's okay, i'm telling myself.

i can't hear your voice any longer,

can't feel the cold at my back

or my feet tangled with the sheets

the world has ended, it's over now.

it's all okay.

i'm starting a new life now,

writing a different story--one you're never in,

one where i'm fine and you've never hurt me--

and a new world has opened up

i hardly think of you anymore

the smell of listerene doesn't catch me at the door,

i can breathe again when i see your name,

and i'm ready to take what's left of me and reclaim it

i'm pulling the key from the door,

standing tall and breathing deep

i'm turning from you and those long halls,

turning from all those memories and all those

lost hopes and dreams, i'm ready

i'm ready, i'm ready, i'm reclaiming that child i once was

and i'm giving her a different story